Is Summer Camp Safe

Ten million children be going to Summer Kids Camps. As Parents we need to consider some new advice to protect campers' health.

Recent guidelines by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the ACA (American Camp Association.) suggest parents be aware of their camps health and safety policies. Dr. Walton, is lead author of the paper and official policy statements.

This new policy suggests parents thoroughly determine if they are sending their child to the "right " summer camp. Does it meet the child's mental, emotional and physical well-being, as well as their interests and skills.

Walton says, "camps should provide parents with a complete picture of what their programs involve". Look at the total package and be sure it is safe an healthy for your child.

Homesickness prevention, the authors write, should start weeks before a child goes off to camp, and can be led by parents with the help of the doctor or other health care provider who performs the child's pre-camp health assessment.

"If parents discuss camp positively, avoid expressing doubts about a child's ability to avoid homesickness, involve the child in preparations for camp, and arrange brief trips or sleep-overs away from home, children will be better prepared to go to camp," says Walton. "Parents should also avoid making pre-arranged plans with their children about picking them up if they get homesick."

With the new guideline, the AAP also recommends that its members -- the pediatricians who treat many of America's children -- get involved with camps in their local area to make sure that health policies and standing orders are up-to-date. They can also act as medical backups to the nurses and paramedic-trained camp health officers on site at camps -- instead of the local emergency room or urgent care center, which Walton's study found was the case 75 percent of the time.

Asthma and allergies also bring new challenges for camps. Parents need to teach their children how to use rescue inhalers or EpiPens (allergy-calming epinephrine injection devices). With or with out the summer camp. Camps need to help children have them nearby at all times.

"The delay that can occur when another camper or counselor has to run to the camp nurse's office to grab an inhaler for a child who is having an asthma attack or an EpiPen for a child who has been stung by a bee can have real health consequences," says Walton.

The new guideline does not give detailed recommendations for camps that serve only children with special medical circumstances, such as cancer, physical disabilities, blindness, deafness or diabetes. But it recommends that camps work with local pediatricians and health professionals to assess children's fitness to take part in such camps, and establish programs specific to them.

To learn more about selecting the Right Summer Camp for your child visit a FREE resource Summer Camp Advice at Summer Camp

Article Source: TravelFreeGuides.com

About the Author

Swift Nature Camp is a Minnesota Summer Camp for boys and girls ages 6-15. Our focus is to blend traditional outdoors summer camp activities with that of a Science Summer Camp. that promotes an appreciation for nature.

by: Lonnie Lorenz

Total views: 10 Word Count: 497 Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 Time: 8:29 AM - 0 comments

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